The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-07-21


The neer-do-wolls and out of-pocket
young men exhibited an extraordinary
consideration for the generals welfare.
They were always dropping In upon
him unswares notwithstanding tho
erimness of Scott and the unmistnkable
frigidity Of their welcome. Every
morning Gen. Biddulph eagerly
searched his letters in quest Of some
dispatch informing him Of the arrival of
his ward, and he called twice day re-
gular at Charges street only to receive
the intelligence that Mrs. Comyns and
Miss DAILY had not yet arriv 3D."
A week had elapsed since he received
Maj. Days letter, and still no tidings
had come. Contrary winds or recall
citrant engines had delayed tho P. & o.
with its fair freight, and the general
was beginning to be uneasy. At last
one morning he was gratified when he
called ut tho house by the announce
ment that "the ladies were expected
that evening""
Now that the actual moment was ap:
preaching when he should come face to-
face with the much-thought-o Of, much
talked-of ward, he found himself actu-
ally nervous and excited. Scott, who
had received the news with stolid silence,
gazed with establishment at the specta-
clio OF his master, fidgeting- actually
fidgeting-from the window to the arm
chair, like the vcriest school boy. The
generals mind during the unusual mi
gratlons presented a brilliant panorama
OF future success. He saw vesta of
long social triumphs in which he shared
largely. Then he fell to thinking what
the queen Of: all these joys would be
like; tall and stately, small and fragile !;
blue, gray, brown, black Dyes; complex
ion as fair as q lily or dusky as the pro-
verbal berry: q Cleopatra or q Gretch-
ep, soft as ball of down or sturdy
as tho Norso daughters. One thing, ct
any ratio, he was certain of: she would
be young. With life's spring dawning
on her check, how could she be aught
but charming? It is wonderful how q
man like the general, who had lived so
many years and had so much experience,
could have made this mistake. Pigs
beauty il all very we'll; but youth is
more than often connected with indiff-
erent skins, lengthy limbs and gawky
forms generally DESTROYS of wriggling
out OF thor garments. His wishes in
this case were father to the picture, and
he ended by starting to welcome tho
traveller with the personi1ication of fe-
male lovliness before his eyes:
He knocked briskly at the door in
Charges street, and smiled benignly on
the man who opened it and preceded
him up stairs. The sun was lingering
on the walls as he mounted the stair case,
and the evening air came in sweet and
fresh through an open window. It had
been very hot all day, and the general
was surprised at first to find bright
fire burning on the hearth OF the room
into which he was ushere d, until he re-
membered that of course the travellers
would be chilly. The room was empty,
but from an adjoining chamber came
sounds of voices, loud and almost dis
cordant. The general shivered. Could
hers be one of them? He hoped not.
1t was apparent to tho meanest intelli-
gence that some sort of alteration was
proceeding. He grew nervous. Rows
and disturbances were at all times APP
palling. After few moments the
voices dropped and he let his eye wander
round the room. In one corner stood a
huge travelling case, with labels all over
SKIN rug ana an unmlstaKaDle Scotch
plaid were tossed UNDECIDED on the floor.
while parcels and small boxes were
strewn around in the widest profusion.
The hands Of the clock moved slowly
on. Waiting is always annoying, now It
was most provoking. But Just as he
was debating whether to go or stay the
door of the inner room was opened, and
a pale, fair, faded woman of about 40
made her appearance. The general
advanced with low bow.
"How do you do, Gen. Biddulph ?"
she said, in languid tones, extending
thin, delicate hand. II am so sorry to
keep you waiting. but was detained by
Dessa," (sighing faintly). The general
fastened to push an easy chair for
ward. Il am really quite glad you
have come" continued Mrs. Comyns,
sinking into the chair. and drawing the
shawl closely around her, ''for she is
altogether beyond me-"
care you abiding to Miss DAILY ?"
asked the general hastily.
Eyes, sighed the lady. out of
friendship to Mai. DAILY t undertook
the charge of his daughter; but I was
totally unprepared for her wild temper
and ways.
"she Is high-spirited2" he suggest
Very" Mrs. Comyns replied dryly.
my health is so bad am quite incom-
petent to manage her."
"May I not see her?" asked the gen.
eral, after pause.
"She will be here in q minute. I
dareSay you heard some sounds of
quarreling when you came in. Yes, I
thought so; that was Dessa giving her
ayah lesson-in fact pulling out the
poor creatures hair in handfuls." The
general uttered an exclamation of dis.
may. Il think it is only right to let
you know what she is. the lady con-
tinued, holding out her hands to the
fire, though to him the room was in
sufferably hot, "unless you are pre-.
pared; perhaps you are. Has Mai.
Daily told you anything about herr ?"
The general was reluctantly compelled
to reply In the negative.
"Just as expected; he is too lazy to
do anything of the sort. Ny own
opinion is that he Is too delighted to get
rid of her for time. I am not sur.
prised."
"But she is so beautifully" said the
general, apologetically. the picture of
his visionary ward rising clearly before
him.
Mrs. Comyns turned her head aside.
"She is triae dark, +" was her reply; and
somehow the general traced suppressed
merriment in her tones.
"She is brunette, then2 he asked,
snxiously.
Mrs: Comyns laughed softly. my
dear Gen. Biddulph, she said, looking
at him for one moment II see you are
not an courant with the state of things,
May I ask if you remember the late Mrs.
Daly?"
II have no personal recollection, Ger
tainly; but I know her to have been a
Il